Way better than I expected thanks to Costner's natural gruff charm and the fact that the script eschews most of the cheap sentiments and schmaltziness. Production values are solid and the supporting cast is good. It´s a shame however that Maria Bello is wasted as Costner's wife with little to do besides playing the doting wife. All in all a good movie about an interesting true life story.

A total, come-out-of-nowhere surprise; a lot better than last year's messy "Million Dollar Arm" and far less condescending than "Black or White." A film that not only understands its genre but understands the culture of the individuals and environment its profiling. Between this, "Draft Day," and "3 Days to Kill," I'm convinced Costner can make almost any genre work. He's just been mistreated with lesser trailers.